The prince is fierce: Who dares to steal my woman?

A jailer silently opened the cell door, letting Liu Xiyu in, and then quickly slammed the door shut. The clanging of chains echoed in the empty cell, like the mockery of death.

Inside the cell, the dim oil lamp flickered, casting dappled shadows, and the air was thick with the mingled scents of rust and blood. He Jian lay unconscious on the floor, his hair disheveled, his clothes tattered, his exposed skin covered in wounds, one leg missing, leaving only a horrifying hole, the blood long since dried and congealed into a dark black.

Upon seeing this scene, Liu Xiyu felt a sharp pain in her heart, and tears streamed down her face, soaking her clothes. She staggered towards He Jian, each step feeling like walking on cotton, weak and heavy.

In the next cell, Han Xiu was huddled in a corner, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. When he saw Liu Xiyu arrive, a hint of surprise crossed his eyes, and he whispered, "He Jian, the princess has come to see you."

He Jian awoke with a start, his once sharp, eagle-like eyes now filled with weariness and reluctance. He struggled to sit up, but his strength failed him; he could only barely prop himself up, his voice hoarse and low: "Princess, you shouldn't have come..."

It turns out that Liu Xiyu and He Jian had a very good relationship, contrary to rumors that they were only married in name only.

Contrary to rumors, Liu Xiyu was not a promiscuous woman who had cheated on He Jian countless times. Those three hundred-plus male lovers were nominally Liu Xiyu's lovers, but in reality, they were all highly skilled assassins, utterly loyal to He Jian and Liu Xiyu.

He Jian arranged things this way, even at the cost of Liu Xiyu's reputation, to create the illusion of marital discord, with the aim of completely severing ties between himself and Liu Xiyu. He Jian knew all too well that he was too closely tied to the Crown Prince, and that the struggle for succession between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Guangling was intensifying. If the Crown Prince were to fall from grace, he would inevitably implicate Liu Xiyu.

And now, what He Jian feared has come true...

With tears welling in her eyes, Liu Xiyu suppressed her grief and said firmly, "My lord, you will be executed by slow slicing tomorrow. How could I not come? Before you die, I must see you one last time and hear if you have anything else to say."

He Jian shook his head with difficulty, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Princess, come here..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiyu quickly stepped forward, squatted down beside He Jian, and tears streamed down her face again.

He Jian leaned close to Liu Xiyu's ear and whispered, "There's a big locust tree in our backyard. There's a box buried under the tree. There's something I left for you inside."

With tears in her eyes, Liu Xiyu said, "I'll remember."

He Jian's lips curled into a bitter smile: "Princess, I'm sorry. I thought that as long as the Crown Prince ascended the throne, I could clear your name and free you from that lewd reputation. But now, all of that has vanished, and I'm afraid you'll never be able to shake off this infamy."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiyu couldn't help but shed tears, but she quickly wiped them away and said, "Don't say that, Prince Consort. I understand your good intentions better than anyone else. After you die, I will definitely find a way to avenge you."

If it weren't for her lewd reputation, Liu Xiyu would be in prison by now.

He Jian shook his head, his eyes full of pleading: "No, princess, promise me, don't seek revenge for me. You must live well."

Liu Xiyu's eyes were brimming with tears, but she forced herself to be strong and asked, "Then, is there any unfulfilled wish of yours?"

He Jian's eyes revealed endless tenderness and longing: "The princess's feet are so beautiful. Let me see them one more time before I die."

Liu Xiyu was a renowned beauty in the royal family, especially her pair of exquisite jade feet, which were simply breathtaking.

Just then, Han Xiu, the burly, sharp-eyed man from the next cell, was secretly glancing this way, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

Liu Xiyu noticed Han Xiu's gaze and quickly and subtly gave him a look, signaling him not to disturb this final farewell.

Han Xiu was stunned for a moment, then understood what was going on. A helpless smile appeared on her lips, and she said in a low voice, "Fine, I won't look."

After saying that, he resolutely turned his head away and refused to look in their direction again.

Liu Xiyu then gently removed her shoes and socks, and instantly, a pair of exquisitely sculpted feet, like jade carvings, came into He Jian's view. Fair as snow, with a faint pink tinge, soft and delicate, like the finest work of art, every line perfectly proportioned, showcasing unparalleled delicacy and elegance.

After an incense stick had burned, Liu Xiyu's graceful figure slowly emerged from the dark and damp depths of the death row cell. Her steps were unhurried, yet carried an undeniable determination and coldness. The cell boss's greedy eyes were fixed on her like those of a hungry wolf, but all he received in return was a frost-cold glance from Liu Xiyu.

"Sixth Brother, that jailer, and all the guards on duty today, leave no one alive."

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Liu Xiyu's eyes as she whispered to the effeminate man guarding the door, "I absolutely cannot leave any survivors so that others will know that I visited He Jian."

Liu Lang responded softly in a soft, eerie voice, "Yes, Princess."

Liu Xiyu gently shook the cloak she was wearing. It was made of the finest silk, so black it seemed to swallow up all the light around it. She deftly pulled up the hood of the cloak, concealing her stunningly beautiful face, which was made even more resolute by the hardships she had endured.

However, just as Liu Xiyu and Liu Lang were preparing to leave quietly, a sudden gust of wind broke the silence. As if by a cruel twist of fate, it blew open the hood of Liu Xiyu's cloak, revealing her stunningly beautiful face.

At the same time, a fragrant breeze accompanied the fluttering of a cloak, and a handkerchief embroidered with an exquisite orchid pattern danced in the wind, eventually landing squarely in the hand of Xiao Jinyan, who was walking towards him.

Xiao Jinyan was momentarily stunned by this sudden turn of events. His gaze met Liu Xiyu's clear yet deep eyes, as if two stars had met unexpectedly in the vast universe, shining brightly.

"My lady," Xiao Jinyan's voice was gentle and affectionate. He gently stroked the handkerchief in his hand, and casually brought it to his nose to smell it. "Is this yours?"

Liu Xiyu gently accepted the handkerchief embroidered with delicate orchids. Her fingertips inadvertently touched Xiao Jinyan's warm palm. She bowed slightly, parted her cherry lips, and uttered a gentle "Thank you, young master."

Then, Liu Xiyu quickly pulled her hood down to cover her stunningly beautiful face, leaving only a faint, exquisite outline, and hurried away with Liu Lang.

Xiao Jinyan turned back to look at Liu Xiyu's swaying figure, a faint fragrance still lingering on his palm, and he was somewhat intoxicated.

Liu Xiyu had only taken a few steps when she stopped, her eyes filled with murderous intent. She whispered to Liu Lang beside her, "Liu Lang, that man just now, he saw my true face, and he wants to kill me to silence me."